Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

Local Women Broadcast In Victory Program (March 18, 1943)

Mrs. Madeline Quandt was one of four women to assist in a broadcast held recently in San Francisco over Station KWIB on a program arranged by Lt. Knight. Benicia Arsenal, in the interest of presenting the war effort of women from the family standpoint.
Mrs. Quandt represented a war mother, and the other three, Mrs. Alice King, Mrs. Alice Unger and Mrs. Estelle Sherman have husbands in the service. Mrs. King, at the time of the broadcast, had not seen her husband, who is in the marine service, for 2 ½ years, though he has since returned.
The program was a part of the Cavalcade of Victory and broadcast as a short wave to forces in the South Pacific.
Since the broadcast, word has been received from Captain Crawford, now in Australia, that the broadcast was heard there.

50 years ago

Benicia Bike Rodeo Draws Big Turnout (March 14, 1968)

Youth on bicycles was served last Saturday when 64 Benicia boys and girls in school grades one through sixth competed for trophies in the first annual Bike Rodeo.
Added entries were three kindergarten youngsters allowed to participate and maybe just show up their older counterparts.
The Bike Rodeo was a joint undertaking of the Police, Post 101, American Legion, and the PTA with Officer Peter V. McArdle in direct charge of the program and the staging of the various two-wheeled events in front of Police Headquarters under a brilliant sun.
McArdle was assisted by Floyd Leek, commander of Post 101; Police Sgt. John F. Silva, CHP Officer Bob Applegate; Mrs. Harold Schmerhorn who acted as safety director; Mrs. Jean Hall who handled refreshments, and eight Boy Scouts of Troop 8.
Donald Koraska, a third grader at St. Dominic’s, was high point winner with 70. He was followed closely by Tuesday Boling, a Mills second grader, with 67 points.

25 years ago

Landlord-tenant dispute led to closure of salon (March 14, 1993)

By David Hagerty

A tanning salon owner said Friday that a dispute with her landlord pushed her from her office in Benicia, and that she attempted to notify all her customers of her plans to relocate, although some said they did not get word out before she closed.
Christine Bachman, owner of Tan Lines Ltd., said she intends to reopen the store March 22 in the Southampton Shopping Center.
Before clearing out her old office space at 2006 Columbus Parkway, Bachman said she posted signs and sent postcards to her customers, warning of the impending move.
“I made every effort in at least the last month I was there (to notify customers) that we were moving,” Bachman said.
Several customers apparently did not get the message, however, and were concerned when the business closed because they had tanning time left on their memberships.

The full articles of these and other stories are available on microfilm at the Benicia Public Library.

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